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Student Prayer Cards
As promised, I would like to begin sharing student stories with you so that we together can be praying for them more specifically. If you would like to pray for 1 of these 3 students, would please send me an email and let me know? It would be a great joy for me to know which ministry partners are praying for these students.
*Names changed to protect the identities of these students*
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Rocky (far right) enjoying a tasty breakfast with friends at our campout last Spring
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Rocky
"Atheism doesn't work for me. I have to believe that we are more than chemical reactions or biological impulses... I'm currently agnostic but as a result of our conversations and Table Talk, I have felt lately that God really is in control and that I can trust him." These are the paraphrased thoughts of our friend, *Rocky,* who has been a regular in our group since last Christmas and is a close friend to my intern, Josh. *Rocky* is a deep thinker, and has been on quite a religious journey from agnosticism to atheism, and now back to agnosticism but expressing real interest in Christianity. Having experienced some significant loss in his life, he is keenly interested to know truth, and we have been so thankful that he has made his way into our group. Please pray that Rocky would know the truth and that the truth would set him free! Pray that he would know that Jesus is the truth he has been searching for: God with us, the God who is truly in control and the God whom he can trust.
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Valerie (far left) enjoying a good time with other students at Fiesta
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Valerie
*Valerie* is new to our group this year. She met my intern, Hannah, at the beginning of the semester and since then, has attended almost every Table Talk and Friday Night Bible Study that we've had. She also came with us to Fiesta this year. She comes from a Hindu family, but says she is not currently practicing Hinduism. Her parents are divorced (which is a big deal back in India), and this is the first time in her life that she has lived away from her mother for an extended period of time. *Valerie* has deep longings for relationships and friendship. Please pray that, instead of trying to find herself in relationships, that she would truly find herself in Christ, the One for whom her heart has been made.
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A recent lunch with Preston
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Preston
*Preston* has been a regular in our group since last Thanksgiving. He is fun-loving and always smiling, despite facing significant challenges in his life. He often attends Table Talk and loves almost every holiday or hospitality event we have. He tells me, "These are memories that I will never forget," after every party we have. Like almost all of our Indian friends, talking about religion with Preston is easy, but understanding why Christianity is the only way is difficult. Hinduism claims that all religions are legitimate paths to God, so *Preston* thinks there is no difference in reading the Bible, the Koran, or the Hindu holy books. Further, all his best memories with family and friends are tied up with Hindu festivals and worship which occur almost every month. I was sad to see *Preston* and other Indian friends choose to attend the Hindu worship festival in October rather than join us for Fall Retreat this year. But I continue to have hope that God is at work in his life, through Table Talk, through our events and through our conversations. He wouldn't keep coming if there wasn't something there attracting him to Christians and Christianity. Please pray that *Preston* would see the difference between Christianity and Hinduism, and pray most of all that he would see that gaining Jesus is far better than what he would lose with Hinduism.
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Quick Update on our Weekly Events
I am pleased to say that our weekly events such as Table Talk, Friday Night Bible Study and RUF-I Sport Night have gone quite well this semester. We have not had the same numbers that we had at our Welcome Dinner at the beginning of the year, but I am so excited for the 10 to 20 students that we get to work with at each of these events on a weekly basis. Josh and Hannah, started RUF-I sports night this semester, and it has certainly been a hit with our students. Its been a great place for building community and its given us an opportunity to partner with RUF National as well. We are meeting in the Student Recreation Center again for Table Talk on Tuesday nights, and we've enjoyed some great conversations around the topic of 'wisdom' this semester. Our Friday Night Bible Study has grown a lot this semester as we've packed out the homes of the Gustafsons and the Wilsons with more than 20 people each week. We've been looking at a book titled 'Confronting Christianity' by Rebecca McLaughlin as we've considered some tough questions that Christians are faced with in our day and age. I am grateful that the Lord has given us these weekly points of contact with students to show them hospitality and to explore the gospel with them.
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Friday Night Bible Study at the Wilsons' home
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Here are a number of things you can pray for us and our students as we look toward the end of the fall semester:
- Please pray for many opportunities for Josh, Hannah and I to meet with students 1-1 or in small groups during the week. Pray that these meetings would be an opportunity to know students more deeply and share the good news of Jesus with them more personally.
- Pray for consistent attendance at Table Talk and at Friday Night Bible Study before we reach final exams at the end of the semester.
- Pray for our FIRST EVER JOINT RUF/ RUF-I THANKSGIVING PARTY on November 21st! Pray that this would be a place where we could effectively minister to both our American and International student groups. Pray for good partnership, and for a great time shared by all in attendance.
- Praise the LORD for the many volunteers he has brought to our ministry to join us in sharing the good news of Jesus with these students! I have been incredibly blessed by so many that have a heart to minister alongside of us to the nations that are in our backyard.
- Lastly, pray for my family: that Crystal and I would have time to connect with one another amidst the busyness of our weekly schedules, and that we would have wisdom to love and parent Brighton and Blaire well.
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Your financial gifts open many doors for us to share the good news of Jesus with these students who are coming to us from the least reached places in our world. We believe that your financial partnership in this work will impact lives and nations for eternity. Thank you for considering RUF International at Texas A&M in your giving this year!!
If you would like to give to this ministry financially, please click the GIVE button below to make a contribution on the RUF-I Texas A&M donation page. If you would like to give by check, please write "RUF-I Texas A&M" or "account # 0512" in the memo line and send checks to:
Reformed University Fellowship
P.O. Box 890004
Charlotte, NC 28289-0004
RUF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
May the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
Titus, Crystal, Brighton and Blaire Bagby
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